Ahmed Mohammad Al-Smadi
American University of Madaba, Madaba, Jordan
Title: Older, anxious, and stressed were associated with higher fibromyalgia among refugees in Jordan
Biography
Biography: Ahmed Mohammad Al-Smadi
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine predictors to fibromyalgia among refugees in Jordan. A cross sectional method was utilized. A 384 refugees were recruited from four different cities in Jordan. In addition to fibromyalgia questionnaire, anxiety, stress, post traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and refugees’ demographical details were collected. Logistic regression was used to examine predictors to fibromyalgia; all variables were included as a possible predictors.
The results of the current study showed that 23.7% (n=91) of refugees had moderate to severe fibromyalgia. Logistic model was statistically significant (P=0.001). The model explained 60% of the variance in fibromyalgia categories and correctly classified 84.9% of the cases. Refugees lives in Irbid city were 7.58 times more likely to exhibit fibromyalgia compared to refuges lives in Zarqa city. Increase age was associated with an increase likelihood of exhibit fibromyalgia. Increase post traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety scores were associated with higher fibromyalgia.
This study showed higher fibromyalgia prevalence among refugees in Jordan. In addition, refugees lives in Irbid city, older, anxious, and stressed after displacement were associated with higher fibromyalgia. The study recommend to assess fibromyalgia among all refugees in Jordan and consider these factors that showed to be associated to fibromyalgia when assess refugees. In addition, the study recommend health care worker to use non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions to elevates fibromyalgia among refuges. Furthermore, the current study recommend further studies to explore other factors that were not included in the current study such as type of diseases associated with fibromyalgia.